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The chairman of Mitchells & Butlers has hit back at the doubts voiced over his independence, insisting that he is committed to acting in shareholders’ best interests over the bid approach from Joe Lewis.

Bob Ivell, the interim chairman since July, told The Times: “I’ve been in the industry for 40 years and I believe I’ve built up a pretty good reputation. Nobody who knows me could doubt my independence and it irks me somewhat that people are insinuating otherwise.”

Mr Ivell, who made his name at Scottish & Newcastle, has faced questions over his independence because of his links